Issue - meetings

The Monitoring Officer presented the report and explained that, at its annual meeting, the Council was required to approve the decision?making arrangements for the discharge of its functions.

It was noted that committees and their numbers of voting Members had remained unchanged. The membership of these were set out alongside the political balance in the relevant appendices.

The programme of meetings for the coming year had been shared, and it was confirmed that there were no additional changes to the Executive, other than the minor amendment approved as part of constitutional changes.

Councillor Watson proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. Councillor Townsend seconded the proposal.

The Conservative Group advised that they were happy with the proposals, with one exception, in that the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee should be selected from their group following a period of being Chaired by the Labour Group.

Councillor Deering proposed that Councillor Wyllie should be Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2026/27. Councillor Hollebon seconded this proposal.

It was stated that, historically, the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny had been drawn from the opposition and, as the largest opposition group, it had been considered appropriate for one of the Conservative Members to undertake the role.

It was clarified that, between 2019 and 2023, the Chair had been a member of the administration rather than the opposition. 

It was further observed that the current Chair was regarded as an effective and impartial leader, who had significantly improved and advanced the work of Overview and Scrutiny.

The motion to support the amendment having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared LOST.

The motion to support the recommendations in the report, having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the Scrutiny Committees, Regulatory Committees and Joint Committees with the number of voting Members listed in paragraph 2.1 be appointed;

(B) the political balance of the Council at Appendix A be agreed;

(C) the membership and Chairman of Scrutiny Committees, Regulatory Committees and Joint Committees be as set out in Appendix B, with Members being appointed in accordance with the wishes of the political group to whom the seats on these bodies have been allocated;

(D) the intention of the Leader of the Council to appoint Members to the Executive (in addition to the Leader) with the portfolio responsibilities as detailed in Appendix C be noted;

(E) That the programme of Council meetings, as detailed at paragraph 4.1, be approved;

(F) the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make changes in the standing membership of committees, joint committees and panels in (A) above, in accordance with the wishes of the political group to whom seats on these bodies have been allocated;

(G) the action to be taken by the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Leader, under delegated authority, concerning the appointment of representatives to outside  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15